On September 2, 1666, one of the most disastrous fires of history took place. It has been called The Great Fire of London.
In the previous year —1665 — there was what has become known as The Great Plague. This terrible scourge meant death to 100,000 people.
The great fire broke out in a wooden house near London Bridge. It burned for four days, during which 400 streets, 13,000 dwelling houses, nearly a hundred churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral and many hospitals and public buildings were destroyed.
In an effort to check the progress of the fire, houses were deliberately blown down to make gaps which the fire could not cross.
Terrible though the fire was, it was really a blessing in disguise, for it swept away the last traces of the plague in the unhealthy houses and streets of the town.
Does this not remind us of the plagues which were sent upon Pharaoh when he would not let the enslaved children of Israel go out of Egypt? All these plagues were sent as a punishment, but a greater plague than any of these came upon the world long before Pharaoh lived.
It was the PLAGUE OF SIN! It had its beginning in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed God and brought ruin on the human race.
This is no myth, as some of the so-called wise men of the world would have us believe. It is a fact that cannot be denied. We see evidences of this awful plague around us day by day. We feel its evil influences in our lives.
SIN — what a terrible plague it is!
The Great Fire of London helped cleanse away the foulness of England’s greatest city, but the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, amid the fires of Calvary’s cross, came to cleanse men and women, and boys and girls everywhere of the great plague of sin. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). “Through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43).
O what blessings flow from the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. How many can truthfully sing —
O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Have you, my dear reader, you who are plagued by sin, come under the power of the cleansing blood of the Lord Jesus? If not, why not come to the Saviour now?
ML-02/27/1977